As the NFL trade deadline hits, the Steelers are being viewed as buyers. That’s the expectation. But Omar Khan could still take a more creative route if he wants to improve one spot by dealing from another.
That kind of approach could put a few recognizable names in play. Pittsburgh may not be eager to part with any of them, but the right offer could change the conversation, especially with some players nearing free agency and others sitting behind deeper parts of the roster.
Patrick Queen is one of the more interesting possibilities. He’s still an inconsistent player, though he has been better in recent weeks.
The bigger issue is that he’s set to be a free agent after the season, and it seems likely he won’t be re-signing with the club. The Steelers do have Elandon Roberts and others to help cover that spot, so while Queen probably won’t be moved, it’s not impossible to picture.
Mason Rudolph is another name worth watching. With the Minnesota Vikings in desperation mode to hopefully find a solution to their ongoing quarterback woes, Rudolph should be brought up.
He’s been stuck on the Steelers’ sideline and could give another team a chance to compete this season. Pittsburgh wouldn’t get much back in a deal, but it could make him available if the goal is to send him somewhere he can start the rest of the year.
Jaquan Brisker also fits the profile of a player who could be discussed. He hasn’t been terrible this season, but he hasn’t quite lived up to expectations either.
He’s a pending free agent, and after the Steelers showed earlier with the Joey Porter Jr. trade that no one is untouchable, Brisker can’t be considered completely safe. A move would only make sense if Pittsburgh landed an upgrade first, and that may not happen.
Yahya Black would be a bigger surprise. He has been terrific in a larger role at different points this season, and moving him would definitely turn heads.
Still, if the Steelers needed to use him to help address a weakness elsewhere, they would have to at least consider it. His role in Pittsburgh may be limited, but his depth would be hard to replace.
Then there’s Alex Highsmith, the name that would probably make fans do the biggest double take. He may already be on borrowed time in Pittsburgh, since the Steelers are unlikely to pay all three of their top edge rushers beyond this season. Highsmith could bring back significant value, but trading him would leave the pass rush in a much more fragile place.
In Other News...
Steelers May Already Be Winning The Joey Porter Jr. Trade
The Joey Porter Jr. trade has already become one of those deals that looks different depending on which sideline you stand on. Dallas paid a hefty price to bring him in from Pittsburgh, but the early returns have been uneven as Porter has dealt with health issues and has been limited when he has been available. For the Steelers, the move brought back future draft capital and cleared a path to watch the long-term value of the deal unfold from a distance.
What makes the situation even more interesting is the timing. Porter is set to become an unrestricted free agent after the season, which only adds to the pressure on Dallas to get something meaningful out of the investment. For Pittsburgh, that looming contract decision is part of why the trade already has the feel of a transaction that could end up favoring the Steelers, even if the final verdict is still waiting to be written. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Head To Cincinnati With First Place Suddenly On The Line
A trip to Cincinnati suddenly carries a lot more weight than it did a few weeks ago. Pittsburgh and the Bengals both arrive at 6-2, both riding four-game winning streaks, and the winner of their Week 10 meeting will leave with a major say in the AFC North race. It is the kind of late-season measuring-stick game that can reshape the division picture in a hurry, especially with the Steelers trying to keep momentum rolling on the road.
The timing only adds to the intrigue around the rest of the division, where Baltimores quarterback situation has taken a sharp turn and the Ravens are now dealing with a very different look under center. For Pittsburgh, the focus is on staying locked in against a familiar rival, while the organization also had to absorb news about Steelers legend Jack Ham, who was hospitalized but reported to be alert while undergoing tests. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Midseason MVP Debate Says Everything About Their 6-2 Start
At the midseason point, the conversation around Pittsburghs most valuable player says plenty about how this 6-2 start has come together. The Steelers sit atop the AFC North, and the internal debate has centered on the kind of contributors who tend to define a winning team before the calendar turns, with the offense getting most of the attention for the right reasons.
Jaylen Warren has drawn the bulk of the support in the discussion, thanks to the way he has driven the attack and piled up scrimmage production. Zach Frazier also got mention for the steadiness he has brought to the middle of the offensive line, a reminder that Pittsburghs best story so far is not just about one standout, but about a unit that has found enough dependable pieces to keep the team in first place. [Read more 🡒]